Activist groups obtained federal records that show Border Patrol agents were accused of misconduct in 2,178 cases. They range from verbal abuse to assault from January 2012 to 2015.

Agents in the Tucson, Rio Grande and Laredo sectors were among the most complained about.

In nearly every case, 96 percent, there was no action taken against the agent.

Chris Rickerd is with the American Civil Liberties Union.

"Someone who’s filed a complaint deserves an effective, transparent response. And that includes knowing where in the procedures the complaint is at any given time," he said, adding that people who file complaints are not notified of resolutions in the case.

The list provided to the activists did not, however, give any specifics that would have helped determine if the complaints had merit.